Battery-carrying device



Aug. 6, 1929. B. FOURETHIER 1,723,147

BATTERY CARRYING DEVICE Filed March 22. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l MIA/5555s jmnmm 5/ 7/ 775 75 FJUiETH/Efi Aug. 6, 1929. V B. FOURETHIER 1,

BATTERY CARRYING DEVICE Filed March 22, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 5, 1929.

barren srarss BAPTISZE FOURETI-IIER, OF WEST FRANKFORT, ILLINOIS.

BATTERY-CARRYING DEVICE.

Application filed March 2., 1927. Serial N 0. H7297.

This invention relates to a device for carrying storage batteriesand has as its general object to provide a dc ice which may be comfortably worn by a miner and which ill support the battery for supplying electric current to his head lamp, in a manner and position such as to in no way interfere with perfect freedom of body movement.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a battery carrying device of the class referred to so constructed that the weight of the battery will be imposed upon and borne by the parts of the body most capable of sustaining the weight, the invention contemplating the provision of a body belt and suspender straps connected therewith to extend over the shoulders of the wearer and means associated with the portion of the bel for holding and supporting the battery.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the body belt of the supporting device that the said belt will likewise servo ellcctually to support the trousers worn by the miner and lil cwise maintain the proper position f the belt with respect to the waistband of the trousers so that there can be norclativo displacement of these parts which would cause inconvenience to the wearer.

Another object of the invention is so construct the battery supper. means and the belt by which it is supported. that the said means may be shifted, within reasonable limits, toward one side or the other so to adapt it to the position most comfortable to the wearer.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the suspender straps of the device that the battery support will be suspended by a yieldable or c shionin connection. Another object of the invention is to so construct the suspender straps of the device that, when the minor bends or stoops, the back straps will yield and 'no additional strain will be imposed upon the miners shoulders.

Another object. of the invention is to provide a novel construction of holder for the battery, the holder being so constructed that the battery may be conveniently disposed therein and when properly in place will be securely retained, means being provided, however, to assist in the removal of the battery from the holder.

A still further object of the invention is to provide novel means for clothing.

In the accompanying drawings: F 1g. 1 IS a perspective view of the battery carrying device embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical front to rear sectional view through the rear portion of the device taken substantially on the line 22 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows s Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line of Fig. 2 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but on an enlarged scale and illustrating the yielding means which interposed in the back straps of the device;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the carrying device embodying the invention;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line G6 of Fig. 5 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Generally speaking, the device embodying the invention con'iprises a body attachable means and a battery holder suspended from a part thereof, and as illustrated in the drawings the said body attachable means comprises, among other elements, a hot belt indicated by the numeral 1 which belt is preferably of leather and is provided at one end with a buckle 2 of the ordinary type so that the belt may be adapted and tightened about the body of the wearer of the device. Preferably the buckle 2 is of the type embodying a tongue 3 which is to be fitted interchangeably through openings 4 in the other end of the belt and it will be observed by reference to the drawings and particularly Figures 1, 2, 5 and 6 thereof that the belt is formed at intervals with vertical slots 5 which. may either be arranged in pairs as shown in the said figures of the drawings or may be equi-distantly spaced. An auxiliary body belt (5 is riveted or otherise secured at one end as at 7 to the end portion of the belt at which the buckle 2 is located and preferably at a point close to the point of attachment of the buckle. From its attached end the auxiliary belt 6, at the time of application of" the body belt to the wearer of the device, is led back and forth through the slots 5 and also through openings 8 which are provided in the waist band of the trousers worn by the minor who is to use the device, the trousers being indicated by the reference letter T. The other end of the auxiliary belt 6 is provided with perforations 9 corresponding to the perforations or openings 4: in the belt 1 and it will be observed by reference to Fig. 6 that the body belt 1 and auxiliary belt 6 are to have perforated ends inserted in overlapped relation through the bail of the buckle 2, at the time the belt is adjusted, and the tongue 3 of the buckle is engaged through registering ones of the openings in the body belt and the auxiliary belt as shown in the said figure and likewise in Fig. 5. In this manner both belts are simultaneously adjusted about the body of the wearer of the device and it will be evident that by the provision of the auxiliary belt, the body belt is securely held in proper position with respect to the waist band of thetrousers T and cannot become accidently displaced to cause inconvenience to the wearer.

In connection with the body belt there is provided a suspension means which is the equivalent of a pair of suspenders except that it embodies novel features which will be fully described. The suspension means comprises a pair of straps 10 which may be of leather, fabric, or a combination of the two although leather is to be preferred for its wearing qualities and these straps are of a length to engage over the shoulders of the wearer and extend down the front of the body and likewise down the back, the straps being mutually crossed at the back and connected at their point of intersection by a rivet or other suitable fastening element indicated by the numeral 11, or, at this point the straps may be connected by stitching. Shorter straps 12 are secured at their lower ends in any suitable manner to the front portions of the body belt 1 as clearly shown in Figures 1, and 6 of the drawings, and as indicated by the numeral 13, and these straps are provided at their upper ends with buckles 14 of any of the ordinary types with which the forward lower ends of the straps are adjustably engaged as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The lower rear end of each strap 10 is provided with a loop 15, and disposed within the bight of the loop and extending through the l oop transversely thereof is a plate 16 having its end portions overturned as at 1'7 so as to be secured. over the edges of the bight of the loop as most clearly shown in Figures 3 and l of the drawings. Each plate 16 is formed with an opening 18 located intermediate its ends and. the bi ghtof the loop is formed with a similar opening 19 which registers with the opening 18. The numeral 20 indicates loops each of which is secured. at its ends as at 21 by riveting or otherwise to a respective side of the back of the body belt 1 as best shown in Figure 1,

nveaiav 2, and 5 of the drawings. The loop 20 is of leather or other suitable material and a plate 22 corresponding to the plate 16 is disposed within the bight of the loop and has its ends overturned as at 23 so as to an.- chored to the said loop at the bight thereof. This plate 22 is formed with an opening corresponding to the opening 18 in the plate 16, and the bight of the loop 20 is formed with an opening 25 corresponding to the opening 19 inv the bight of the loop 15, the opening 21 registering with the opening 25. As previously stated, the straps are arranged, at the back of the device in crossed relation, and the arrangement is such that the loop 15 at the lower rear end of, for example, the left shoulder strap 10, will be presented to the bight of the loop at the right hand side of the middle back of the body belt 1, and vice versa. The numeral 26 indicates a stem which is fitted through the openings 18, 19, 2 1 and 25 and is provided at its lower end with a head 27 which engages against the under side of the respective plate 22. The stem extends an appreciable distance above the respective plate 15 and is provided at its upper end with a head 28, and a washer 29 is preferably arranged upon this end of the stem and engages against the said head, a helical compression spring being arranged upon the stem and hearing at its upper end against the washer and at its lower end. against the plate 16. This structure is clearly shown in Figures 2, 3 and 1 of the drawings and it will be understood at this point that when an upward pull is exerted upon. the rear stretches of the suspension strap 10, as for example when the miner is stooping or bending or is handling his pick, the loops 15 may recede from the respective loops 20, such movement being against the tension of the spring 30, thus permitting the strap to yield ithout er;- erting any considerable upward pull upon the body belt 1 at the rear thereof. And therefore the position of the body belt is not disturbed and the miner experiences no inconvenience nor are his body and limb movements in any way interfered with. Therefore the structure presents a decided advantage over one in which the rear or back stretches of the suspension straps 10 would be connected directly to the body belt, It will be understood of course that equivalent yielding connections may be employed but the connection shown and described is a desirable one particularly inasmuch as it is compact and eilicient, and furthermore it will be observed that thestem 26 and the springs 30 are held within the loops 15 so that they do not come in contact with the clothing of the wearer of the device.

The holder for the battery is indicated in general by the numeral 31 and the same is preferably in the form of an open frame structure of general rectangular shape comprising upright front members 32 which are preferably of bar metal and are bent to provide rearwardly extending bottom portions 33 and upwardly extending rear portions 34, the upper ends of which latter portions are preferably outwardly or rearwardly deflected as at A rectangular bar metal frame 3G is likewise provided in constructing the carrier or holder and comprises front and rear side members 37 and 3S and end mem bers 39, and the front member 37 of thesaid frame is riveted or other vise secured as at 40 to the forward sides of the front upright members 32, the upper portions of the rear upright members 34: being riveted or otherwise secured to the rear side member 38 of the frame 36 as indicated by the numeral 41. The frame structure further includes a bottom bar 42 which is arranged to extend transversely beneath the bottom portions of the bar members 32 and is secured thereto at the intersection of the parts by rivets or other fastening means The ends of the bottom bar are bent to extend upwardly to provide end upright portions i l which have their upper ends laterally outwardly deflected as at 45, these members 44 being riveted or otherwise secured as at 46 to the end members 39 of the frame 36. At this point it will be e ident that a batter may be read ily introduced into the bas ct-like frame structure thus provided and that due to the deflection of the upper ends of the frame a members 3% and a l, the introduction and removal of the battery is greatly facilitated, particularly the introduction thereof, as the battery is guided into place in the frame structure. The supporting holding frame for the battery will of course be made of suitable dimensions to more or less snugly retain the battery in place so that it will be properly held, and in order to suspend the frame from the body belt 1, means is provided which will now be described.

To provide for suspension of the carrying frame for the battery, the material of which the belt 1 is formed is cut, in blank form, of somewhat greater depth at the rear portion of the belt than at the sides and front thereof and this portion is rolled about an arcuate metal rod 47, to provide an arcuate tubular pocket 48 for the red, the upper margin of the overturned portion of the said blank being stitched or otherwise united as at 49 to the inner surface of the body belt at the rear side thereof. In this manner an approximately cylindrical attaching portion is provided at the lower edge of the body belt It. at the back thereof and is of a diameter somewhat greater than the thickness of the belt. The upper ends of the rear upright members 32 of the holding frame structure for the battery are. bent to arcuate form as indicated by the numeral 50 so as to embrace the forward side of the said attaching portion, and strips 51 are riveted or otherwise secured to the rear sides of the said members 32 at the upper portions thereof and have their upper ends bent to arcuatc form as indicated by the numeral 52 and similar to the portion 50 so as to embrace the rear side of the said attaching portion of the body belt. The length of the gripping portions 50 and 52 is such that they will extend about the approximately cylindrical attaching portion a sullicient distance to insure of secure suspension of the battery hold a; frame structure from the said portion of the body belt without any likelihood of the said frame SifillCi'lllQ being pulled loose. [it the same time it will be observed that the upper ends of the portions 50 and 52 terminate sl htly short of the plies formed by wrappin g the extension of the blank of the body belt 1 about the rod a? and as a. consequence the upper ends of the forward members of the battery holding frame may have slight swinging movement upon and with respect to the said attaching portion of the body belt so that when the wearer of the device changing an an erect to a bending or stooping pos )11 or vice versa, the battery frame may have swinging movement to a limited extent with respect to the body belt, the extent )f such movement being ample how ver, due to the construction shown and described, to insure against any interference of the device with the freedom of body movement of the wearer.

In order that the battery and the holding frame therefor may be prevented from coming in contact with the clothing of the wearer of the device a shield plate is disposed against the forward side of the frame members 32 and the frame member 37 and secured thereto in any suitable manner.

The battery may be readily removed from the holding frame. by upward displacement but as these batteries are ordinarily of the dry type, there is no objection to their inversion, and therefore, in order that the battery may be more readily discharged from the holding frame, a substantially U-shapcd handle 54 is secured to the under side of the bottom frame member 42 and may be grasped for the purpose of inverting the frame structure and discharging the battery therefrom.

From the foregoing description of the invention it will be seen that there is provided a battery carrying device which is admirably adapted for use by miners and, which device, when properly applied and adjusted, will support the battery upon the miners back and through the medium of a body belt and suspension shoulder straps, so that the weight of the battery is sustained by the shoulders and hips of the miner, which parts of the body are best suited to sustain the weight. It will further be observed that the battery is supported in such a manner that freedom of body and limb movement is not in any way impaired.

As previously stated the battery holding frame may have a limited swinging movement with respect to the body belt and it will lil wise be understood that the members and which embrace the attaching portion of the said body be t may be slid longitudinally thereof so that the battery holding frame may be adjuster toward either side of the body and thus caused to assume. a position where it will cause the least inconvenience to the wearer thereol it is t be understood, of course, that various changes may be made, within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

1. A battery carrying device comprising a body belt having a part of its lower portion overturned to provide pocket, a reinforcing element extending longitudinally within the pocket, the pocket being of a diameter greater than the thiclcn ss of the belt, and a battery holder including a suspension member having spaced portions moveably embracing the said pocket.

2. A battery carrying device comp rising a body belt having its lower portion formed to provide a longitudinally extending pocket of approximately circular cross section, a reinforcing rod within said pocket, and a battery carrier including suspension members having spaced arcuate engaging portions at their upper ends embracing the front and rear sides of the said pocket and suspending the said holder for swinging and sliding adjust-- ment with respect to the belt.

3. A battery carrying device comprising a body belt having a longitudinal series of openings therein, an auxiliary belt assembled with the body belt and extending longitudinally thereof and extending through said openings and constituting means adapted to be passed through openings in the waistband of a pair of trousers about which the body belt is arranged, to hold the body belt against displacement with respect to the said waist band of the trousers, and a battery holder suspended from the body belt.

4:- A battery carrying device comprising a body belt having a longitudinal series of openings therein, an auxiliary belt assembled with the body belt and secured at one end thereto and extending longitudinally thereof and likewise extending through said openings, the said auxiliary belt constituting means adapted to be passed through openings in the waistband of a pair of trousers about which the body belt is ar ringed, to hold the body belt against displacement with respect to the said waist band of the trousers, means common to'the two belts for adjustably connecting their ends, and a battery holder suspended from the body belt.

5. A battery carrying device comprising a body belt, suspension shoulder straps connected at their front ends to the said 1 ill, loops at the rear ends of the straps, loops connected to the belt at the rear portionv thereof, stems engaging through the bights of the respective loop, springs upon the stems, each stem having an abutment for one end of the spring and the other end'of the spring engaging in the bight of the respec tive loops, and a battery holder supported by the belt at the rear portion thereof.

6. A. battery carrying device comprising a body cit, suspension shoulder straps connected at their front ends to the said belt, loops the rear ends of the straps, loops connected to the belt at the rear portion thereof, plates within-the bights of the said loops, the plates and the bights of the loops having registered openings, a stem extending through the loops of each strap and the openings in the plates, each stem having an abutment portion. engaging one of the plates and an abutment portion spaced with respectto the other plate, a spring upon each stem bearing against the last mentioned abutment and against the respective plate.

7. A battery carrying'device comprising body belt having a supporting portion extending circun'iferentially along its lower portion at the rear of the belt, and a battery carrier including suspension members having spaced areua-te engaging portions at their upper ends embracing the front and rear sides of said supporting poi ion of the belt and suspending the ma holder for swinging and sliding adjustment with respect to the belt.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

BAPTISTE F OUEETHIER. 

